Parents are being reminded to make sure any Halloween costumes they buy for their little ones meet new fire safety standards.

Fancy dress costumes are actually classified as toys rather than clothes which means they don’t need to undergo rigorous testing, but two new voluntary codes of practice have been introduced just in time for trick or treating season.

The British Retail Consortium's (BRC) says companies who are on board will see their dress-up products put through extra fire-safety testing, according to the Plymouth Herald.

David Bolton, head of product safety at the BRC, said: “We have led the way in developing guidance and tools to help all companies, not just our members, test products to a standard above current regulations to give their customers the reassurances they rightly demand."

The new codes of practice involve changes in flammability tests and labelling.

Costumes are classed as toys not clothes (Image: Getty Images)

Mr Bolton added: “While this is a valuable tool for all companies, we are still recommending that the UK Government and EU authorities revisit the legislation to ensure all products on the market are effectively regulated to reflect the hazards presented by today’s style of costumes, including the fabrics and finishes used.”

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So when you’re picking out pumpkin costumes and monster masks for your little ones, parents are being urged to look out for items that have undergone this new testing.

Manufacturers who actively contributed to the new code of practice for testing include Christy's by Design, Rubies UK, and Smiffy's.

Items that have undergone the new safety tests will have a label reading: “This garment has undergone additional safety testing for flammability.”

An accident involving Strictly Come Dancing presenter, Claudia Winkleman’s daughter in 2014 focused attention on what were seen as failings to the existing Toy Safety Standard for the flammability of children’s dress-up costumes, according to the BRC.

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This means the costume complies with European health and safety requirements, but is easy to fake.

Robert Chantry-Price, of Trading Standards, said: "One way to spot fraudulent CE markings it to check the logo. Sometimes the wrong logo is used entirely, but if it looks correct, check the middle line of the 'E', as it should be shorter than the other parts

Only choose a costume that:

Displays the manufacturer's name, address, postcode or phone number

Has a registered trademark

Is accompanied by fire warnings, instructions and safety information.

Layer up

Make sure your child wears another garment underneath their costume. That way, there is a layer between the costume and their skin.

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Swap tea lights for LED versions that are much safer than leaving candles burning. They are easily available on the highstreet. They fit inside your pumpkin and also won’t blow out when trick or treating.

Experts have also warned Halloween fans not to pair their costumes with novelty contact lenses because they can cause blindness.

The eyewear is widely available on the internet and is often sold illegally in joke shops and market stalls.

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But the lenses can cause infections and damage the cornea while unauthorised outlets rarely provide advice about how to wear and care for them.

Experts are urging Halloween partygoers who are planning to wear spooky lenses this year to buy and wear them safely, The Mirror reported.

Experts have warned people not to use costume contact lenses (Image: EyeEm)

Mr Badrul Hussain, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Each year we treat patients, including children under 16, who have developed eye conditions after wearing cosmetic contact lenses.

“There can be an increase in these problems in the period around Halloween. Some of the cases we see, like patients sharing lenses with friends, wearing the same pair year after year well past the expiry date, and storing them in tap water, have devastating effects.”